City Council gives go-ahead to kiosk plan

By Lyle Moran, lmoran@lowellsun.com

Updated:
03/06/2013 06:39:26 AM EST

LOWELL -- The City Council approved a $2 million loan order Tuesday night that will allow the city to purchase 172 new parking-meter kiosks, many of which it plans to place near the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell and LeLacheur Park.

The loan order also lays the groundwork for the city to move forward with its plan to reduce Father Morissette Boulevard to one lane of traffic in each direction instead of two and add 156 new parking spaces, as well as 15 kiosks, to the roadway. New bike lanes would also be added.

Other roadways where some of the new kiosks are slated to be placed include Suffolk Street and Perkins streets by the Lawrence Mills. Of the 172 new kiosks being purchased, 57 will cover nearly 500 new spaces of parking.

City Manager Bernie Lynch praised the city's planned deployment of kiosks and creation of new spaces as actions that will enable the city to better manage parking in the area, as well provide local businesses with the turn-over in spaces they are seeking.

Lynch also said the changes to Father Morissette -- called for by urban planner Jeff Speck's "Downtown Evolution Plan" -- will create a more "urban feel" on the roadway.

The council had delayed voting on the loan order last Tuesday in part to get feedback from businesses about the proposal.

City Councilor Bill Martin said while not all businesses he spoke with agreed on what should be done about parking in the Wannalancit Mills area, he thinks the city is wise to move forward with its plan.

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"I think the need for the spaces is there and it is there for some sort of turnover," said Martin.

City Councilor Rodney Elliott was the lone vote in opposition to the loan order. He said he had reservations about the traffic and safety impact of reducing travel lanes on Father Morissette, pointing to traffic generated by those going to and from Lowell High School.

His motion to reduce the loan order by $172,500 for the 15 kiosks planned for Father Morissette was defeated, 7-2. Ed Kennedy was the other councilor who voted in support of Elliott's motion, as he also voiced skepticism about the city's plan for Father Morissette.

Information provided by the city's traffic engineer indicates Father Morissette could handle two fewer travel lanes.

With one lane in each direction, the roadway is expected to utilize 80 to 81 percent of the capacity it could handle at two intersections. The proposed changes for Father Morissette also do not begin until 500 feet west of the intersection of Father Morissette and Arcand Drive.

Councilor Joseph Mendonca said he thinks not only should Father Morissette be able to handle the lanes reduction, but the parking spaces replacing the two lanes should help make the street safer for pedestrians.

The loan the city plans to secure will be at a 3 percent interest rate, and the city hopes to pay it back in four to five years.

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